Vertical blinds

ABSTRACT

A blind having movable and orientable slats, incorporating a set of runners connected together by a flexible link which are mounted to be movable in translation in a continuous guide and which each carry an orientable shaft bearing a blind-slat. The runners on the one hand and the shafts on the other are connected kinematically to a single control member, which is rotatable and is connected both to a pulley which drives a tensioned cord fixed to the first of the runners, and to a rod equipped with worm gears each of which meshes with a pinion on a slat-bearing shaft. A first clutch is provided between the rotatable member and the drive pulley and a second clutch is provided between the rotatable member and the rod, each clutch being in its operative position when the other is in the inoperative position and vice versa.

United States Patent 1 1 Bruneau et al.

[ Apr. 22, 1975 1 1 VERTICAL BLINDS [221 Filed: July 30, 1973 [21] Appl.No.: 383,516

FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany 160/172 Primary Emminer-Jr KarlBell [57] ABSTRACT A blind having movable and orientable slats.incorporating a set of runners connected together by a flexible linkwhich are mounted to be movable in translation in a continuous guide andwhich each carry an orientable shaft bearing a blind-slat. The runnerson the one hand and the shafts on the other are connected kinematicallyto a single control member, which is rotatable and is connected both toa pulley which drives a tensioned cord fixed to the first of therunners. and to a rod equipped with worm gears each of which meshes witha pinion on a slat-bearing shaft. A first clutch is provided between therotatable member and the drive pulley and a second clutch is providedbetween the rotatable member and the rod. each clutch being in itsoperative position when the other is in the inoperative position andvice versa.

13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRZZ I575 SHEET 1 (1F 4 VERTICALBLINDS This invention relates to vertical blinds comprising an upperrail in which is situated a mechanism for orienta tion and longitudinalmovement of slats which hang down at right angles to the operatingmechanism.

In the present state of the art, such blinds are made up of a shapedmember in which slide runners supporting slats made of fabric, plasticsor any other material. In most cases, the series of runners has aleading runner which is connected to the next runner by a flexible stripwhich determines the gap between them and of which the length is lessthan the width of the slats, and so on for all the runners. By means ofthe leading runner, a movement can be effected which extends from afully folded position to a longitudinally unfolded position extendingover the whole of the length of the rail. The unfolding operation takesplace as follows:

The leading runner is acted on and draws along the next runner untilstopped by the distance strip, and so on for all the succeeding runners.A cord passing over pulleys is frequently used to move the leadingrunner. Each runner further incorporates an orientating mechanism whichimparts an axial rotation to the slats which are attached at rightangles to the mechanism. All the runners have passing through them ashaft which transmits the rotary movement by means of a worm. This shaftmay be operated by a cord, a chain, a crank, etc. Furthermore, it isonly desirable to move the slats sideways if they are in a position atright angles to the open ating mechanism, so as to prevent rubbing whichcould damage the slats which are made of fabric, paper, etc.

A blind of the type referred to above is known in which both movements(translatory and pivoting) are obtained from a single operating member.

The present invention relates to a blind of this type which iscontrolled by using reliable and simple mechanical means.

To this end, the invention provides a blind having movable andorientable slats, of the type which incorporates a series of runnersconnected together by a flexible link, which are mounted to move intranslation in a continuous guide and which each hold an orientableshaft supporting a blind slat, the runners on the one hand and theirshafts on the other being kinematically connected to a single controlmember, characterized in that the said member is rotatable and isconnected on the one hand to a pulley driving a tensioned cord which isattached to the first of the runners and, on the other hand, to a rodprovided with screw means each of which meshes with a pinion on theshaft of a slat-support, a first clutch being provided between therotatable member and the drive pulley and a second clutch being providedbetween the rotatable member and the rod, each clutch being in theoperative position when the other is in the non-operative position, andvice versa.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of the upper guide ofa blind according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line IIIIII of FIG. I,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. I,

FIG. 6 s a schematic view with partial horizontal sections, of the upperguide shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6, and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views of two different embodiments of thesingle control for a blind.

Referring to the drawings. it can be seen that a blind according to theinvention includes an upper guide I formed by a profiled member whichhas two horizontal tracks 2 and 3 for the wheels 4 of runners 5. Eachrunner 5 incorporates a vertical shaft 6 secured to a pinion 7 andbearing an attachment 8 for a blind-slat 9.

In addition, each runner has passing through it two holes 10 througheach of which passes one of the runs of a cord 11 which passes over adrive pulley l2 and two return pulleys l3 and whose ends are secured bywedges 14 in seatings in the leading' runner 5a.

Thus, when the drive pulley I2 is turned, the cord is drawn along in onedirection or the other and pulls on the runner 50. All the runners arejoined together by flexible strips I6 of predetermined length. In thedirection in which the runners 5 space themselves out along the guide 1(when the blind is closed), the strips I6 enable the runner 5a to pullalong the next runner, and the next runner the one after and so on. Inthe opposite direction, which corresponds to all the runners 5 beingclosed up together at one side of the guide I (when the blind is open),runner 5a pushes on the next runner and the next runner pushes on itsneighbor and so on.

Furthermore, all the pinions 7, which are mounted to turn in the runners5, mesh with worms [7 which are keyed to a rod 18 which extendslongitudinally inside the guide 1.

When the rod 18 turns, it drives with it the worms l7 and all thepinions 7 and, as a result, the shafts 6, the attachments 8 and theslats 9, which may thus be orientated as required.

The cord 11 on the one hand and the rod 18 on the other are controlledby means of a single rod 19 of any known type which may be operatedeither by hand via a crank, or by a motor.

In FIGS. I to 4 it can be seen that a known type of clutch is insertedbetween the rod 19 and the pulley 12. This clutch is produced in thefollowing way. To the rod 19 is fastened a driving pinion 20 which iscoaxial with a surrounding ring 21 having internal teeth, which isdriven by planetary pinions 22 which mesh with both the pinion 20 andthe ring 21. Welded spots 23 form stops which, at a certain point,prevent further movement of the planetary pinions 22 and, as a result,lock together the pinion 20 and the ring 21, which is integral with thepulley 12.

This assembly forms a clutch because the driving pinion 20 turns and thering 21 remains stationary as long as the planetary pinions are free tomove. During this free-wheel mode of operation, the pulley 12 alsoremains stationary. On the other hand, when the planetary pinions 22 arelocked by the stops 23, the driving pinion 20 moves the driven ring 21and the pulley 12 so that the cord 11 is actuated and the runners 5 aremoved in one direction or the other, depending on the direction in whichthe rod 19 is turned.

A second clutch is provided between the rod 19 and the rod 18, thissecond clutch being linked kinemati' cally to the first due to the factthat the driving pinion 20 is integral with a bevel pinion 24 whichmeshes with a second bevel pinion 25 whose axis is at right angles tothe first bevel pinion. these latter forming an angled transmission to ashaft 26 which carries a gear 27 meshing with a gear 28 carried by acountershaft 29 integral with a further shaft 30.

Thus, when the first clutch is freewheeling. rod 19 operates rod 18. Thesecond clutch is produced as follows: A spring 31 the ends of which arebent back to form stops 32 and 33. is coiled around shaft 30. and thestops 32 and 33 are able to cooperate with the edges of a slot 34 madein the end of a driven shaft 35 fastened to the rod 18.

A sleeve 36 is positioned on the outside of the driven shaft 35coaxially thereto and carries an internal projection 37 which extendsbetween the ends 32 and 33 of spring 31. On the outside. the sleeve 36carries a thread 38 which engages with a fixed internal thread 39 thelast turn of which contains a welded spot 40 which forms a non-jammingstop for thread 38.

This second clutch operates as follows: When the shaft turns in thedirection of arrow A. it drives in rotation the spring 31. End 32 buttsagainst the edge of the slot 34 and tends to thrust it along but thelatter resists with a force greater than the elasticity of spring 31,which therefore tightens. At the same time, the end 33 encountersprojection 37 and drives round the sleeve 36, which slides axially dueto the fact that the thread 38 is engaged in the internal thread 39.When the thread 38 strikes against the stop 40, sleeve 36 comes to ahalt. During these movements, the shaft remains stationary, as do rod18, worms l7, pinions 7, shafts 6, attachments 8 and slats 9.

As soon as the sleeve 36 comes to a halt, the rotary movement of theshaft 30 is transmitted to the slots 34 in the driven shaft 35, whichresults in rotation of the rod 18, the worms 17, the pinions 7 on shafts6, the attachments 8 and the slats 9, which orientate them selves. Whenthe movement is reversed, end 32 acts on the projection 37 and frees thesleeve 36 which is then able to slip on shaft 35.

The complete blind operates in the following manner:

in the position in FIG. 1, it can be seen that the blind is closed. Therunners 5 are spaced out along the guide 1 and the slats 9 areorientated substantially in a plane parallel to that of guide 1.

By operating the rod 19, the pinion 20 is caused to rotate and to drivethe planetary pinions 22. The ring 21 and the pulley 12 remainstationary. Pinions 24 and 25 are, however. driven and shaft 13 rotatesvia gears 27 and 28. The sleeve 36 is in the locked position so that theshaft 35 and the rod 18 also rotate. The slats 9 pivot through 90 tocome into a position in which they are all parallel and at right anglesto the plane of the guide 1. This angle is selected as being the mostfavorable for closing up the slats 9 towards one another (when the blindis opened). The action is achieved by working out the pitch of thethread 38 and of the internal thread 39 in a suitable manner. At thismoment the sleeve 36 is released and slips on the shaft 35 so that theshaft 35, being uncoupled, ceases to move.

At the same time, the planetary pinions 22 reach the stops 23 so thatthe ring 21 and the pulley 12 are driven. The cord 11 moves and causesthe runner 5a to slide and to push against all the other runners. Whenthe latter are in the required position, the rod 19 is no longeractuated. By turning it in the opposite direction. the slats wouldstraight away be pivoted before the blind could be opened.

ln other words, one of the clutches is in the operative position whenthe other is in the inoperative position and vice versa. so that theslats are always orientated at the most favorable angle before therunners move.

The rod 19 may easily be driven by a reduction motor and this can bedone at a cost distinctly lower than that of the separate drive system.This is particularly useful when a plurality of assemblies are to becontrolled by a single switch. The number of end-of-travel stops andswitches will, of course, be smaller. This single control also enablesmore space to be gained by using a small motor which can be positionedright beside the guide 1.

Referring now to FIG. 8, it can be seen that the pulley 12 has integralwith it two arcuate sections 51 and 52 between which are engaged splineson a sleeve 53, these spines extending into tongues 54 which passunrestrictedly through holes 55 in pulley l2 and which, as will beexplained below, are able to cooperate with a fixed set of teeth 56.

A spring 57 is coiled around the rod 19 and its two ends 58 cooperatewith the splines on the sleeve 53 and the arcuate sections 51 and 52.

The rod 19 passes freely through a disc 59 which is provided with aplurality of recesses 60 which are symmetrically distributed withrespect to the axis of the rod 19.

The lower face of the bevel gear 50 has the same number of recesses asthe disc 59 so as to hold captive ball-bearings 61.

The gear 50 has an arcuate skirt 62 around which fits a sleeve 63 havingan internal spline and external teeth 64.

A spring 65, similar to the spring 57 described above, is coiled aroundthe rod 19 and its ends. which are folded back, cooperate with thevertical edges of the skirt 62 and with the internal spline on thesleeve 63.

The planetary pinions 22 mesh with the teeth 64 on the sleeve 63 andalso with the fixed internal teeth 66 on an annular projection 67integral with the housing.

Finally, a spiral compression spring 68 is inserted between the disc 59and the pulley l2 and is locked against rotation by its two ends 69which are folded back and engage between the two arms of a fixed fork70. The device operates as follows: By turning the rod 19, the spring 65is moved and its end acts on the splines on the sleeve 63. the teeth 64on which cause the pinions 22 to revolve. When the planetary pinions 22reach the stops they can no longer revolve and they lock the sleeve 63.

As long as the planetary pinions 22 are able to turn, the bevel gear 50turns also and the transmission pinion 25 is itself driven around sothat the rod 18 turns and causes the blind slats to be orientated.

When the planetary pinions 22 are locked, the rod 19 revolves in adirection such that the spring 65 tends to expand by butting against thespline on the sleeve 63, which enables the rod l9 to rotate whileleaving the planetary mechanism stationary.

The disc 59 has a lower annular projection 590 into which the top ofsleeve 53 fits with a certain amount of interference; since the latteris held stationary by the tongues 54 and teeth 56, a braking action isexerted on disc 59 while the bevel gear 50 is turning. The disc 59rotates with it but, as a result of the interference. it lags behind thebevel gear 50 and the ball-bearings 61 cause the bevel gear 50 and thedisc 59 to move apart due to the slope 60a in the recesses 60.

The sleeve 53 is thus held in position, which tends to expand the spring57 and, consequently. to leave the pulley l2 stationary in spite of therotation of the rod 19.

When the pinions 22 are locked, the bevel gear 50 comes to a stop. Thedisc 59, impelled by the spring 69, pivots under the effect of theball-bearings 61, which bring the recesses 60 in the bevel gear 50 andthe disc 59 opposite one another. The disc 59 rises and releases thetongues 54 which were locked in the teeth 56. The sleeve 53 is able toturn and spring 57 again tightens around rod 19 so that the rotarymovement of this rod 19 is transmitted to pulley 12 via the arcuatesections 51 and 52.

The cord 11 is then moved to open or close the blind, after the slatshave been orientated by the rod 18 which is driven by the bevel gear 50.

When the rod 19 is turned in the opposite direction, the bevel gear 50and the rod 18 are again made to rotate before the pulley 12 turns andthe cord 11 moves.

Referring now to FIG. 9, it can be seen that the mechanism driving therod for orientating the slats via the pinion 2S and bevel gear 50 is thesame as for FIG. 8.

in contrast, the mechanism for driving the slatcarrying runners by meansof the cord 11 and the pulley 12 is produced in a different way.

In this case, the pulley 12 has integral with it a drum 71 provided withinternal teeth 72, while a pinion 73 is keyed to the shaft 19. Planetarypinions 74 mesh both with the teeth 72 and the pinion 73.

Between the teeth 72 are provided as many stops as there are planetarypinions, so that the latter may be locked simultaneously after a certainamount of unrestricted travel when acted on by pinion 73 turned by rod19. When locking occurs, the pulley 12 is driven by rod 19 via pinion73, planetary pinion 74 and drum 71.

The operation of the device may be deduced from that already described:

When the rod 19 begins to turn, spring 65 connects together rod 19 andbevel gear 50 and the planetary pinions 22 are free. As soon as they arelocked to the fixed annular projection 67, spring 65 opens to allow therod 19 to turn freely, while the bevel gear 50 is stationary.

At this moment, the planetary pinions 74, which are free to turn, reachthe stops and lock together rod 19 and pulley 12 which drives cord 11.

It is thus possible to orientate the slats from the same rod 19 beforethey are moved in either direction.

While particular embodiments have been described it will be understoodthat various modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A blind having movable and orientable slats, of the typeincorporating a set of runners connected together by a flexible linkwhich are mounted to be movable in translation in a continuous guide andwhich each carry an orientable shaft bearing a blind-slat, the runnerson the one hand and the shafts on the other being connectedkinematically to a singie control member. an improvement wherein thesaid member is rotatable and is connected on the one hand to a pulleywhich drives a tensioned cord fixed to the first of the runners and. onthe other to a rod equipped with worm gears each of which meshes with apinion on a slat-bearing shaft, a first clutch being provided betweenthe rotatable member and the drive pulley and a second clutch beingprovided between the rotatable member and the rod, each clutch being inits operative position when the other is in the inoperative position andvice versa.

2. A blind according to claim 1, wherein the first clutch is fitted witha free-wheel intended to actuate the clutch automatically after acertain number of revolutions of the rotatable member.

3. A blind according to claim 1, wherein the second clutch is fittedwith a de-clutching mechanism which de-clutches after a certain numberof revolutions of the rotatable member.

4. A blind according to claim 1, wherein the driving member of the firstclutch is kinematically connected to the driving member of the secondclutch.

5. A blind according to claim 1, wherein the rod fitted with the wormgears is supported by a bearer which can be moved along the continuousguide for the runners between an end position corresponding to therunners being closed up together at one side of the guide and a medianposition corresponding to the runners being spaced out along the guide,this median position being defined by a stop which is fixed to the guidealong the path of the bearer.

6. A blind according to claim 5, wherein the bearar has two holesthrough each of which passes one of the runs of the cord, one of theholes being larger than the other.

7. A blind according to claim I, wherein the two clutches are coaxial.

8. A blind according to claim 7, wherein the single control membercomprises a central rod about which two springs are coiled at differentlevels, the folded ends of which are able to cooperate with radial stopson two parts which are each kinematically connected to one of the drivemechanisms for the slats, these springs locking or unlocking the saidrod to the corresponding mechanism depending upon whether they areimpelled in a direction in which their coils are tightened or released.

9. A blind according to claim 8, wherein the first drive mechanismincludes a member capable of coopcrating with a fixed part in order toimmobilise it when the second drive mechanism is operating.

10. A blind according to claim 9, wherein said memher is formed by atleast two tongues integral with a sleeve which is subject to the actionof one of the coiled springs, these tongues being opposite a fixed ringof teeth, a coil spring being inserted between the said sleeve and adisc provided with recesses in each of which is situated a ball-bearing,a bevel gear in the second drive mechanism itself having recesses whichenclose the balLbearings, the recesses having walls which are inclinedin a direction at right angles to the radii of the disc and the bevelgear.

11. A blind according to claim 7, wherein the two mechanisms are eachkinematically connected to the single control member by a clutch havingplanetary pinions, a releasable connecting member being inserted 13. Ablind according to claim 11, wherein the connecting member is formed bya spring coiled around an axial rod fastened to the control member, thefolded ends of the spring cooperating with stops which are integral withthe clutch and can move independently in order to cause the spring to beeither tightened to or released from the rod.

1. A blind having movable and orientable slats, of the type incorporating a set of runners connected together by a flexible link which are mounted to be movable in translation in a continuous guide and which each carry an orientable shaft bearing a blind-slat, the runners on the one hand and the shafts on the other being connected kinematically to a single control member, an improvement wherein the said member is rotatable and is connected on the one hand to a pulley which drives a tensioned cord fixed to the first of the runners and, on the other to a rod equipped with worm gears each of which meshes with a pinion on a slat-bearing shaft, a first clutch being provided between the rotatable member and the drive pulley and a second clutch being provided between the rotatable member and the rod, each clutch being in its operative position when the other is in the inoperative position and vice versa.
 1. A blind having movable and orientable slats, of the type incorporating a set of runners connected together by a flexible link which are mounted to be movable in translation in a continuous guide and which each carry an orientable shaft bearing a blind-slat, the runners on the one hand and the shafts on the other being connected kinematically to a single control member, an improvement wherein the said member is rotatable and is connected on the one hand to a pulley which drives a tensioned cord fixed to the first of the runners and, on the other to a rod equipped with worm gears each of which meshes with a pinion on a slat-bearing shaft, a first clutch being provided between the rotatable member and the drive pulley and a second clutch being provided between the rotatable member and the rod, each clutch being in its operative position when the other is in the inoperative position and vice versa.
 2. A blind according to claim 1, wherein the first clutch is fitted with a free-wheel intended to actuate the clutch automatically after a certain number of revolutions of the rotatable member.
 3. A blind according to claim 1, wherein the second clutch is fitted with a de-clutching mechanism which de-clutches after a certain number of revolutions of the rotatable member.
 4. A blind according to claim 1, wherein the driving member of the first clutch is kinematically connected to the driving member of the second clutch.
 5. A blind according to claim 1, wherein the rod fitted with the worm gears is supported by a bearer which can be moved along the continuous guide for the runners between an end position corresponding to the runners being closed up together at one side of the guide and a median position corresponding to the runners being spaced out along the guide, this median position being defined by a stop which is fixed to the guide along the path of the bearer.
 6. A blind according to claim 5, wherein the bearar has two holes through each of which passes one of the runs of the cord, one of the holes being larger than the other.
 7. A blind according to claim 1, wherein the two clutches are coaxial.
 8. A blind according to claim 7, wherein the single control member comprises a central rod about which two springs are coiled at different levels, the folded ends of which are able to cooperate with radial stops on two parts which are each kinematically connected to one of the drive mechanisms for the slats, these springs locking or unlocking the said rod to the corresponding mechanism depending upon whether they are impelled in a direction in which their coils are tightened or released.
 9. A blind according to claim 8, wherein the first drive mechanism includes a member capable of cooperating with a fixed part in order to immobilise it when the second drive mechanism is operating.
 10. A blind according to claim 9, wherein said member is formed by at least two tongues integral with a sleeve which is subject to the action of one of the coiled springs, these tongues being opposite a fixed ring of teeth, a coil spring being inserted between the said sleeve and a disc provided with recesses in each of which is situated a ball-bearing, a bevel gear in the second drive mechanism itself having recesses which enclose the ball-bearings, the recesses having walls which are inclined in a direction at right angles to the radii of the disc and the bevel gear.
 11. A blind according to claim 7, wherein the two mechanisms are each kinematically connected to the single control member by a clutch having planetary pinions, a releasable connecting member being inserted between one of the clutches and the single control member.
 12. A blind according to claim 7, wherein the drive mechanism for the slat-bearing runners incorporates a pulley for a cord, this pulley being integral with a drum having an internal set of teeth meshing with planetary pinions, which themselves mesh with a pinion fastened to the single control member which passes axially and freely through the pulley. 